Overhead door guiding means



March 17, 1942. HOWELL 2,276,976

OVERHEAD DOOR GUIDING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 'nventora,

2)y+heir attorney,

amauw March 17, 1942. E. N. HOWELL ETAL OVERHEAD DOOR GUIDING MEANS Filed May 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 by their attorn Patented Mar. 17, 1942 g OVERHEAD DOOR GUIDING MEANS Edward N. Howell, Over-brook Hills, and Frank Boylan, Philadelphia, Pa.; said Boylan assignor to said Howell Application May 5, 1941, Serial N0. 391,948 1 4- Claims.

ing brackets, connected with the top part, of

the upper panel, of the door, sometimes cause the upper edge of the door to sweep through a path requiring extra head room, above the horizontal branch of the L-shaped-tracks. Therefore, the main object of our invention is to provide a construction of top panel, guiding means, which, while permitting the upper edge of the door to be automatically braced in a dependable way, to be held shut against strong winds when the door is closed down, will, when the door is raised, guide the top edge of the upper door panel, close to the track, vertically, and thus greatly reduce the operative head room required for the door operation, as it travels on the curved and horizontal branches of the side tracks.

With this and other objects which will hereinafter appear, one embodiment of our invention is illustrated in the drawings, its operation and the functioning of the parts isexplained, and

what we claim as set forth.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an overhead type of door and correlated L-shaped tracks, showing the panel guiding means connecting the top panel of the door with the track.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the door and tracks showing the relative position of the panel guiding means, when the door is closed.

Figure 3 is a fragmental perspective view of a top door panel and side track, with the panel guiding means attached thereto, the door being in closed position, and top panel forced against 2 the door jamb.

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the panel guiding means, as associated with the top door panel and the curved section of the track, when the door is closed down.

Figure 5 is an enlarged edge elevation of the parts shown in Figure 4, and for the samerela- 5o tive position.

Figure 6 is an enlarged top plan of the parts of the panel guiding means shown in Figure 4, and for the same relative position of the parts.

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the panel guiding means, as associated with the top door panel and the horizontal section of the track, when the door is open.

Figure 8 is an enlarged top plan of the panel guiding means, as shown in Figure 7, positioned, in relation to the horizontal section of the track and top door panel. 1

Figure 9 is an end elevation of the panel guiding means, for the relative position of the parts, as shown in Figure 7.

Figure 10 is an edge elevation of the panel guiding means per se.

In Figure 2,'the complete, sectional, overhead door 15 is shown to have four horizontal panels or sections l6, l1, l8 and I9, hinged together by hinges 20. At theupright edges of the door, are shown the L-shaped tracks 2| and 22, each having an upright branch 23, a curved section 24 and a horizontal branch 25. 'Associated with each horizontal track branch 25, is the usual counterbalancing spring 26, pulleys 21 and 28, and cable 23, which is connected with the corner plate 30, at the bottom of the door l5. End

hinges 3| are connected with rollers 32, engaging the track. The door I5 is adapted to close tight against the door jamb 33.

Considering now the panel guiding means 34, there is one connected with each of tracks 2| and 22, and each guiding means has a half hinge plate 35, shown to engage a pin 36, which extends to one side, to have pivoted thereto, the arm 31, having a finger extension 38. From the arm 31, near the finger extension 38, projects a pin 39, upon which is a track roller 40, which serves as a fulcrum roller or element for the guiding means, and is adapted to engage the inside of the track and roll thereon. Journaled upon the pin 39, between the roller 40 and the arm 31, is a second am, having a notch at 42, to receive the finger extension 38, when the arms 31 and 4| are more nearly in line with one another as shown in Figure '7. Projecting sideways from the lower end of arm 4|, is a pin 43, having journaled therewith, the trackengaging element or grooved roller 44, adapted to engage the rounded part of the track. Near a point where the curved portion 24, of the track merges with the upright portion 23, is fixed a hook bracket 45, having its hook 46 bent outward to catch the roller 44, as it comes down to rest within the bracket 45, as shown in Figures 1', 3 and 4. I

In operation, let us assume that the door I 5 is closed down and against the jamb 33, as shown in Figure 1. Then with a half hinge plate 35 of the guiding means mounted and fixed on the inner faceof the panel l9, at each end thereof,

and near the top edge 41, of the panel IS, the arm 31 will be inclined downward, having its outer end held by virtue of the engagement of the roller 40, with the curved track portion 24, and the roller 40 held from further down movement, by the second arm 4| being held by the stopping of its lower grooved, track engaging, roller, 44, within the fixed hook bracket 45. This position of the guiding means parts, for the down and closed position of the door I5, is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Now, starting from this closed position, one begins to raise the door IS. with roller 44, remaining for an instant, where it is, for the closed position of the door IS, the arm 31 will swing, throwing the top edge 41, of the panel l9, close to the track, as at 41', until the finger extension 34, engages the notch 42, and further rotation of the arm 31 is stopped. In this position, the roller 40 serves as a fulcrum to the arms 31 and 4| now acting in unison as a stiff lever, causing a pressure between the grooved roller 44 and the track, where this roller 44 is still lodged within the hook bracket 45. A continued lifting of the door will cause the rollers 40 and 44, to travel along the track, as do the rollers 32, but as the panel l9 approaches a horizontal position, more weight of the panel I9, will come upon the guiding means for support of its outer end, while the combined relation of the arms 31 and 4|, still acting as onestiil lever, will serve as a cantilever support to the outer end of the panel I 9, with the track, at the roller 44, resisting any turning of the cantilever upon its roller 40. At the right end of the track portion 25, as shown in Figure l, the horizontal position of the panels as It and I9, and the relative position of the guiding parts, as arms 31 and 4|, and th rollers 40 and 44, is shown by broken lines to be respectively at I8", I9 31*, 4|, 40*, and 44'.

Now, when closing the door, the parts will travel back on the track until the top edge 4'I,' of the panel l9, comes back to the position 41", with the roller 44 entered and stopping within the hook 46, of the hook bracket 45, to be against the track, and this will cause the arm 31, tuming on the held roller 40, to swing the top part, of the panel l9, out against the jamb 33, in the full line position of the parts shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, with the door fully closed.

Considering the construction of the guiding means, the only reason for having a notch 42 in the arm 4|, is on account of making this arm from available stock, as a cheap straight edged, flat bar, then having the notchbottom come where the finger extension 38 should stop, when the arms 31 and 4| are held relatively as one piece. But, if the finger extension 34 is bent more than shown, relative to the arm 31, the parts can be designed to dispense with the notch, if desired, so that the finger extension 38, will, when stopping at a straight edge of the arm 4|, leave the angular relation of the arms 31 and 4| as is required for the functioning of the parts. As another modification. the finger extension can be integral with the arm 4| and be positioned to stop against the arm 31, to limit the relative rotation of the arms in one direction.

Inasmuch as other changes in construction can be made without departing from the spirit of our invention, we wish to include all forms which come within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A guiding means for the uppermost panel of a hinged, sectional, overhead door, which door is mounted with rollers on side tracks, to travel thereon, where said tracks are of L-formation, with upright and substantially horizontal portions, said guiding means comprising, a support fixed to the said uppermost panel, in spaced relation with the bottom, hinged line of said panel, a fulcrum element engaging said track in th path of said door rollers, an arm pivoted at one of its endsto said support, and connected at its other end with said fulcrum element, forming between the ends of said arm, a positive strut for said uppermost panel, relative to said track, when said door is closed, and said uppermost panel stands upright, a second arm pivotally connected at one of its ends with the fulcrum, element end, of said first mentioned arm, a second track engaging element at the opposit end of said second arm, a stop means on said arms, near said fulcrum element, in spaced relation with the pivotal connection of said arms, with one another, for limiting the rotation of said arms, relative to one another, in one direction, to form a cantilever support for said uppermost panel, when the latter is in a horizontal positionyon a horizontal portion of said track, and a second stop fixed to said track, in position to be in the path of said second track engaging element, as said panel becomes upright, upon the closing of said door.

2. A guiding means for the uppermost panel of a hinged, sectional, overhead door, which door is mounted with door rollers on side tracks, to travel thereon, where said tracks are of L-formation, with upright and substantially horizontal portions, said guiding means comprising, a support fixed to the said uppermost panel, in spaced relation with the bottom, hinged line of said panel, a fulcrum roller engaging said track, in the path of said door'rollers, an arm pivoted at one of its ends to said support, and connected at its other end with said fulcrum roller, forming between the ends of said arm a positive strut for said uppermost panel, relative to said track, when said door is closed, and said uppermost panel stands upright, a second arm pivotally connected at one of its ends with the fulcrum, roller end, of said first mentioned arm, a second track engaging element at the opposite end of said second arm, a stop means on said arms, near said fulcrum roller, in spaced relation with the pivotal connection of said arms, with one another, for limiting the rotation of said arms, relative to one another, in one direction, to form a cantilever support for said uppermost panel, when the latter is in a horizontal position, on a horizontal portion of said track, and

a second stop fixed to said track, in position to be in the path of said second track engaging element, as said uppermost panel becomes upright, upon the closing of said door.

3. A guiding means for the uppermost panel of a hinged, sectional, overhead door, made in accordance with claim 2, wherein said element is a roller.

4. A guiding means for the uppermost panel of'a hinged, sectional overhead door, which is mounted with door rollers, engaging side tracks, of L-formation, with upright and substantially horizontal portions, said guiding means comprising, a support fixed to said uppermost panel, in spaced relation with the bottom, hinged line, of said uppermost panel, a double armed member, including a strut arm and a lever arm, joined together at their inner ends, in pivotal,

arm connection, the outer end of said strut arm being pivoted to said support, a fulcrum element on said armed member, next to the pivotal con-,

. nection of said arms with one another, and positioned to engage said track in the path of said door rollers, a second track engaging element at the outer end of said lever arm, stop means on said armed member, near said fulcrum element, in spaced relation to the pivotal connection of said arms with one another, for limiting the rotation of said arms, relative to one another, in one direction, whereby, when said uppermost panel is in a substantially horizontal position on the track, said armed member becomes a rigid, cantilever support to the said uppermost panel, with said fulcrum element bearing down on the track, and with th said second, track engaging 10 ing of the said door.

EDWARD N. HOWELL FRANK BOYLAN. 

